Fondo Antico

For this 8th edition of Avvinando Wine Fest, the event recorded four thousand visitors in two days, a hundred wineries and about 800 labels.

Credit for success goes, of course, to the organizers Massimiliano Morghese, Giuseppe D’Aguanno and Marco Busalacchi who are committed to creating “the richest edition ever” citing their words. It is no coincidence that the selection of participating wineries has been very accurate and has followed precise quality criteria. From biological to biodynamic, from “natural” to “conventional” wines, each producer told his own story, his passion and his way of making wine, with his own production philosophy.

The festival, “staged” at the Cantieri Culturali at the Zisa in Palermo on 11st and 12nd May, finds its strength in the presence of producers, ready to tell their own story to the increasingly numerous public of wine lovers, who loves to taste wines that represent a terroir, hearing wines’ informations directly from those who produce them, experiencing, every day, in first person, the choice to focus on quality relying on their own abilities.

So, among full glasses, bright smiles and interesting encounters in the “magic” wine world, there were, however, moments of reflection such as the seminar focused “We work every day to leave our children a better environment than ours” in occasion of which Lucrezia Lamastra, scientific coordinator of the SOStain program, spoke of sustainability in the Sicilian vitiviniculture with the referents of Cusumano, Tasca D’Almerita and Planeta wineries through the story of the project that this wineris share following the desire to communicate good agricultural practices aimed at respect for the ecosystem and absolute transparency towards the consumer.

On Sunday 12nd there was also an interesting laboratory of the Pellegrino Winery entitled “Quattro Grilli per la Testa” in which four wines were tasted, all produced with Grillo grapes. The laboratory led by Carla Spatafora, Brand Ambassador of the winery and by Luigi Salvo, delegate of Ais Palermo. The winetasting would show how it is possible obtain absolutely different wines from Grillo variety. We tasted four different Grillo Wines, produced in different ways, that come from different soils and part of Sicily. Grillo has become extremely versatile and able, contrary to what was believed in the past, to hold up well time thanks to a marked minerality and acidity given to the grapes by some lands closer to the sea.

Here are some of our best Sicilian wine tastings:

Fondo Antico – Grillo Parlante 2018

Bright straw yellow color. The nose offers elegant notes of white flowers, pear and apple and Mediterranean aromas of sage and rosemary. In the mouth the sip is lively and permeates the palate thanks to a strong savory trail that lengthens the memory.

The original article could be find on Wining.it written by Manuela Zanni

Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Perricone was one of the most widespread and exclusive varieties of the sicilian island, especially in the territory between Palermo and Trapani. Its decline began with the phylloxeric invasion which destroyed its cultivation; it was also known with the synonyms of pignatello (in the Trapani area) and tuccarino.

Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Perricone was one of the most widespread and exclusive varieties of the sicilian island, especially in the territory between Palermo and Trapani. Its decline began with the phylloxeric invasion which destroyed its cultivation; it was also known with the synonyms of pignatello (in the Trapani area) and tuccarino.

In Sicily they restarted to cultivate this indigenous grape in recent times, but in the meantime other black grapes more profitable and resistant to cryptogamic agents had spreaded themselves around the island. After years in which the reappearance of the Perricone on the Sicilian territory was desired by many, also linked to the morphological characteristics that well adapt it to the soil of the island, but without too many convictions in practice, there is a recent reversal of trend and a happy rediscovery of the variety, which has been replanted by many and currently provides several excellent labels.

Today it is quite cultivated especially in the western area of the island – also because it is a recommended variety only in the provinces of Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento – especially in the area of Trapani. It contributes, sometimes with low percentages, to the composition of many Sicilian Denominations and is contemplated as a pure typology in the Doc Sicily.

Today it is increasingly common to find the Perricone vinified in purity, while the custom of using it in association with other black and white varieties remains. The wine that is generally obtained has intense vinous, fruity and spicy aromas, followed by a savory, warm and well-balanced taste, supported by a decisive tannic note that can draw an excellent personality but also, if not well managed, overly dry and astringent final sensations.

Perricone bunch is of medium size, long and sometimes very long (up to 33 centimeters), cylindrical-conical or conical-pyramidal, of medium compactness. The grape is large or medium-large, spherical, with a thick, pruinose, black-blue skin. When it reaches maturity, usually around mid-September, the grapes have a good sugar level and low acidity.

Fondo Antico, Rilievo (TP)

Giuseppe Polizzotti is the owner of this company and the custodian of a family tradition that goes back two generations: its vineyards are located in the countryside between Paceco and Fulgatore, inland from the winery. Intense notes of red fruit and a strong component of herbal tea characterize Per Te 2017 (10,000 bottles), which is well expressed also served at a white temperature.

Thursday, May 9th from 7 pm La Bottiglieria Del Massimo in Palermo, is planning the sixth appointment of “Palermo e Le Strade Del Vino”, the event dedicated, this time, to rosé wines of Sicily. You will cross the island, in a journey that will traverse from the west to the east, the most suitable wine areas. There will be rosé wines from different types of autochthonous vines, from Nero d’avola to Nerello Mascalese.

Palermo e le Strade del Vino is confirmed as an appointment of trend in the city and success, thanks to the large participation and appreciation of the food quality offered. The sixth appointment follows the previous ones dedicated to the Cerasuolo of Vittoria, the Etna Rosso, the Nero d’avola, the Mamertino and the lighthouse, the Perricone in the perspective of the enhancement of the indigenous Sicilian vines and with the aim of promoting in the city the culture of the good drink and knowledge of wine. For the tasting is expected to buy a ticket of 20 euros (includes the dish with the scallops).

Friday 3rd May we are pleased to host at the Winehouse, the Fondo Antico winery.

During the evening we will taste Bello Mio (Dry Zibibbo) with a bite of buffalo mozzarella and swordfish, Lumierè (Chardonnay) with roasted bread with tuna, Syrah with a mushroom flan and Per Te (Perricone) with cous cous with vegetables. Finally the dessert will be accompanied by the Baccadoro passito wine.

Cefalù becomes the protagonist of the “three days” of this first edition of Vigen wine.

This amazing city will be hosted thirty wineries that produce and promote sicilian wines made by indigenous grapes. A path of knowledge and complete discovery that will be enhanced by natural and architectural landscape beauties.

After the large numbers recorded in last year’s edition, the 11st and 12nd of May will be back with Avvinando Wine Fest in its usual location, the Cantieri Culturali Zisa enriched with many new features, starting from the double day Saturday-Sunday, instead of Friday- Saturday as in 2018. Not only wine this year, but also grappa, bitter, oil, salmon.

Giuseppe Polizzotti Scuderi divides his day between the countryside and the pharmacy, between passion and finance. 80 hectares held by the family for 6 generations in the countryside of Trapani, in the 1995 all converted to vineyards for the most part autochthonous; the winery was founded in 2000 and over time has been converted mainly to mono-varietal wines. Grillo Parlante 2017 Doc Sicilia is intense and elegant, while Per Te 2017 Igp Terre Siciliane represents the most authentic essence of Perricone.